Hibiscus plant named ‘Adonicus Red’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Adonicus Red’, characterized by its upright, mounding and bushy plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; large red-colored flowers with darker red-colored centers; and excellent flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ADONICUS RED’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscusplant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Adonicus Red’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Sabro, Denmark. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new strong Hibiscus plants with attractiveand long-lasting flowers.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination in August,2010 in Sabro, Denmark of a proprietary selection of Hibiscusrosa-sinensis identified as code designation GB 2008-6830, not patented,as the female, or seed, parent with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Adonis’,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,592, as the male, or pollen, parent.The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark in May, 2011.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Sabro, Denmark sinceSeptember, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscusplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Adonicus Red’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Adonicus Red’ as a new and distinct Hibiscusplant:

-   -   1. Upright, mounding and bushy plant habit.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large red-colored flowers with darker red-colored centers.    -   5. Excellent flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Hibiscus are not as glossy as        leaves of plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have larger flower buds than        plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent,‘Adonis’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of‘Adonis’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have darker green-colored leaves        than plants of ‘Adonis’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and ‘Adonis’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Adonis’ have dark pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscusrosa-sinensis ‘Arionicus’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,746. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Sabro, Denmark, plants of the newHibiscus differed from plants of ‘Arionicus’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of plants of the new Hibiscus were darker green in        color than leaves of plants of ‘Arionicus’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Hibiscus were not as glossy as        leaves of plants of ‘Arionicus’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Adonicus Red’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typicaldeveloping flower buds and a typical open flower of ‘Adonicus Red’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a close-up view of a typicaldissected flower of ‘Adonicus Red’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the autumn and winter in 13-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Sabro, Denmark and undercultural practices typical of commercial Hibiscus production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C.,night temperatures ranged from 19° C. to 21° C. and light levels rangedfrom 40 to 50 klux. Plants were pinched one time eight weeks afterplanting and plants were 26 weeks old when the photographs and thedescription were taken. In the description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Adonicus Red’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis identified as code number GB 2008-6830, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Adonis’,            disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,592.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About four weeks at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About eight            weeks at temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About ten            weeks at temperatures about 24° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; color, close            to 158A, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Container plant; upright, mounding            and bushy plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with usually about            four to six lateral branches developing per plant; pinching            enhances lateral branch development.        -   Plant height.—About 35 cm to 55 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 30 cm to 50 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 10 cm to 30 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm to 8 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm to 5 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; becoming woody with development.        -   Color, developing.—Close to 147B.        -   Color, developed.—Close to N199B and 199B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous.        -   Length.—About 8 cm to 12 cm.        -   Width.—About 6 cm to 8 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Irregularly serrate; undulate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; somewhat leathery.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Scattered pubescence; venation            prominent.        -   Luster, upper surface.—Moderately glossy.        -   Luster, lower surface.—Matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N189A; venation,            close to 139A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137A; venation, close to 146A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 cm to 6 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to N189A. Color, lower            surface: Close to 197A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leaf            axils; uniform, continuous and freely flowering habit with            numerous flowers developing per plant; flowers face mostly            upright to slightly outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower in the garden during            the spring and summer or during periods of warm weather; in            the greenhouse, plants can be flowered year-round; plants            begin flowering about 20 to 22 weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Excellent flower longevity, flowers last            for about three to four days; flowers persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 15 cm to 19 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 8 cm to 10 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Rate of opening: Flowers buds open in about            three to five days. Length: About 4 cm to 8 cm. Diameter:            About 2 cm to 3 cm. Shape: Ovoid to lanceolate. Color: Close            to N34A.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Five petals in a single whorl; petals            imbricate. Length: About 8 cm to 9 cm. Width: About 7 cm to            8 cm. Shape: Fan-shaped. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire; undulate. Texture, upper surface: Glabrous;            rough with a velvety appearance. Texture, lower surface:            Glabrous, rough with a satiny appearance. Luster, upper            surface: Matte. Luster, lower surface: Glossy. Color: When            opening, upper surface: Close to 44A; towards the base,            close to 53A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 47A.            Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 45A; towards the base,            close to 53A; with development, main color becoming closer            to 44A. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 47B; with            development, color becoming closer to 47A.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a            campanulate-shaped calyx. Length: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm.            Width: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Glabrous,            rough. Texture, lower surface: Glabrous, smooth. Color,            upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to            144B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm            to 4 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture:            Sparsely pubescent. Color: Close to 143A and 137A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            more than 100. Filament length: About 5 mm to 10 mm.            Filament color: Close to 52B. Anther shape: Rounded to            ovate. Anther length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther color:            Close to 20A. Amount of pollen: Abundant. Pollen color:            Close to 19A. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About 10 cm. Style            length: About 9 cm. Style texture: Smooth, waxy. Style            color: Close to 4C. Stigma appearance: Five-parted, rounded            stigma pads. Stigma color: Close to 53A. Ovary color: Close            to 149D.        -   Seeds.—Quantity produced per flower: About 1 to 15. Length:            About 5 mm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Color: Close to 202A.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed    to have tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 40° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus    plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Adonicus Red’as illustrated and described.